Blog Tour: Uncontrollable by SR Johannes (Review and Giveaway)

This virtual book tour is presented by the author, S.R. Johannes.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

It is my pleasure to feature SR Johannes and Uncontrollable.

S.R. Johannes is the author of award-winning and Amazon bestselling Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and new tween paranormal, On The Bright Side. She has also published short novelettes as well as a teen romance anthology with 16 other authors titled, In His Eyes. Uncontrollable, the sequel to Untraceable, is scheduled for September 2012.

S.R. Johannes is a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult category) and was also recently nominated for as Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category) and semifinalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Young Adult of 2012

After earning an MBA and working in corporate America doing marketing for over 15 years, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.

Blah blah blah - BORING!

In a nutshell - I love sunsets, rainbows, butterflies, and puppies. Oh yeah and zombies.

She has "graced" us with an interview!

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

In 2004, after I had my daughter I got an idea and started writing a picture book while she napped. 100,000 words later I realized how much I loved writing. Until then, I had always written things but never thought of it as a career.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

Well, I have always been in marketing but I worked for American General Life Insurance (boring) when I graduated from UGA. I decided to get a MBA from Auburn and graduated with a job at Accenture. % years later, I took a job with a client at Bank of America. In 2006, I left BofA to freelance copywriting and write.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

My first book took a couple years. But now I outline which saves so much time. If I know my story, it’s just a matter of writing it. Now I can write a book in about 6 months (once I outline)

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

You mean physically? I can’t type. I am a “pecker”. That does not save time. I should never have snuck by on my typing tests in high school J

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

I just sit down and blog. Then write. Once you get to be a mom, you take advantage of the time your kids are not around so it doesn’t take much to get me in the mood to write. I am usually itching to write and jump on it when my kids go to school.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

Life. I pay attention to my surroundings all the time. I think that is the unfortunate thing with having smartphones and games and music, people check out more. There are so many stories all around us. I never have a problem with ideas. For me the problem is choosing one and writing it fast enough.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

Whatever I keep thinking about. I am very visual so I will lie in my bed and see how an idea plays out in my head visually. Could it be a movie? If it excites me, I write it.

? What books have most influenced your life?

Pippy Longstocking made me want to write strong girl characters. Gone Wild by James Hall and Carl Hiaasen books made me realize I could do thrillers with a conservation message for teens. James Patterson taught me how to write thrillers that are pacy. My favorite book is John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley. It made me realize there are characters and stories all around us, we just have to pay attention to them.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

Laura Ingles Wilder – I used to love those House on the Prairie books.

? What are you reading right now? Endangered by Eliot Schrefer. Great book about a girl and her bonobo fighting to stay alive in the Congo. I love books that combine conservation with contemporary.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Besides playing with my family and hanging out with my hubby?

Think about writing J

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Comfort? Homemade chicken soup from Las Margaritas.

? What do you think makes a good story?

Anything can be a good story if you tell it right.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

John Steinbeck because I love how he uses regular people to portray real characters

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

I couldn’t do that. I have a short attention span so if I know what is going to happen, I won’t read it. I have too many books on my TBR list anyway.

Fun random questions: 

·                    dogs or cats? Dogs! (especially my black goldendoodle – best dog evah!)

·                    Coffee or tea? Sweet tea

·                    Dark or milk chocolate? Dark

·                    Rocks or flowers? Rocks? Who says rocks besides Mo? Flowers.

·                    Night or day? Night

·                    Favorite color? Green

·                    Crayons or markers? crayons

·                    Pens or pencils? pens

Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes

As 16 year old Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program". 

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants. 

After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues. 

Little does she know, she is being hunted too.

My thoughts:  
     Fantastic story!  The characters are wonderfully created and fleshed out into "real" people as the story unfolds off the pages.
     This is a wonderful addition to the series - picks up the story line and runs with it.  The plot is original and clever - keeps you on the edge of your seat.  The interactions of the characters are realistic and some will leave your heart aching.  The writing is creative and flows well, carrying the reader further and further into the story.
     This is one series you DON'T want to miss out on - I can hardly wait for the next one!

You can buy an ecopy of this book HERE.

You can enter to win a copy of Uncontrolable by S.R. Johannes by filling in the form below!

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole!

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour: Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know by Hy Conrad and Jeff Johnson (with Giveaway)

This virtual book tour is presented by Teddy Rose and Virtual Authors Book Tours.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

It is my pleasure to feature:

Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know

by Hy Conrad and Jeff Johnson.

JEFF JOHNSON
Jeff spent most of his working life in advertising agencies, currently as General Manager of Cramer-Krasselt in New York City. He is the author of "The Hourglass Solution: A Boomer's Guide to the Rest of Your Life" and co-authors (with Paula Forman) a national online advice column called "Short Answers," which also appears in newspapers all along the east coast (from Massachusetts to Florida). Jeff lives in Vermont and Key West and is on the Board of Directors of the Waterfront Playhouse and the Florida Keys SPCA.

HY CONRAD
Best known for his work in mysteries, Hy was one of the original writers for the groundbreaking series, Monk, working on the show for all eight seasons, the final two as Co-Executive Producer. In a related project, Hy was Executive Producer and head writer of Little Monk, a series of short films featuring Adrian Monk as a ten-year-old. His latest TV work was as writer and Consulting Producer for White Collar.

Hy is also the author of hundreds of short stories and ten books of short whodunits, which have been sold around the world in fourteen languages. Hy's first mystery novel series, Abel Adventures, debuted in 2012 with the publication of "Rally 'Round the Corpse." And his first full-length comedy/mystery play, "Home Exchange," premiered at the Waterfront Playhouse in May 2012.

Hy's first humor book, "Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You to Know," also debuted in 2012.

He lives in Key West with his partner and two miniature schnauzers. (www.hyconrad.com)

Dear Human:

Your dog probably puzzles you. Most of us do that. And most of us would like to keep things as they are: humans in the dark, dogs with the upper hand.

But we dogs are about to let you in a little secret.  Okay, a lot of secrets.

• We graduated first in our obedience class three times. This should tell you something.
• Puppies know that they're being cute. They're using you.
• We don't sound anything like those silly voices you use to imitate us.
• We hate those ridiculous names you give some of us. Moonbeam is not a dignified name for a mutt.
• You might want to check your herb garden for fertilizer.
• We are only wearing this stupid birthday hat so we can get some cake. No self-respecting dog cares about his birthday.
• We are not spoiled, certainly not in comparison to teenage girls.
• We are in charge of the house. We let you pretend that you are.
• We'd be lost without you. We love you.

It's all in our new book, Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You To Know, as told to humans Hy Conrad and Jeff Johnson. Even Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin) raves about us!  Inside you'll find revelations such as the reason we at the sofa (leather tastes very similar to rawhide), and what we really think of the costumes you dress us up in.

I'm not alone. Ten other courageous canines have stepped forward to tell you what your dog won't – every last dirty, hairy bit of it.   If you have dogs, love dogs, or have ever been baffled by a dog, this book is a must-have.

My Thoughts:
     I am a dog lover so this was the book for me.  It's fun and funny, touching and cute.  I enjoyed the stories from the perspectives of the dogs!  Although not every page is funny, some stories will make you smile while others will make you laugh out loud.  A great read for those moments when you only have a minute as the stories are only each two pages long.
     This book grabs the reader by the heart - an absolute must read for dog lovers everywhere.

You can buy a copy of this fun book by clicking HERE.

You can enter to win a copy by filling out the form below - good luck - thanks for entering.

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole. Happy Reading.

Blogfest 2012

Presented by A Journey of Books.

Welcome to The Wormhole and Blogfest 2012!

Giveaway details:

US and International

Must be a follower of The Wormhole.

Must be 13+ years old.

Must fill out the form below.

Prize: Any ONE book ($10.00 or less) 

from either book depository or amazon

as long as shipping is FREE to the winner's location.

Good Luck to all who enter! Thanks for following!

Blog Tour: Katrina ~ The Beginning by Elizabeth Loraine

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Katrina and Elizabeth Loraine.

Elizabeth has joined us for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Just three years ago.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

So many, a secretary, receptionist, decorator, decorative painter, wife and mother.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

About three months depending on the story.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have to have the TV on. I don’t like silence to write.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

It’s like my job, a great job, but still I work five days a week unless something is going on, and work from about eight to three or four in the afternoon. Then I also do promoting, marketing and social media throughout the day and evening.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

I have all these ideas stacked up in my head just waiting to get out.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I love YA and I’ve always loved fantasy, especially vampires, so that’s what I chose to write about.

? What books have most influenced your life?

Lord of the Rings, Interview with a Vampire, Wizard of Oz.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

The Elves and the Shoemaker

? What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Yellowstone Heart Song, by Peggy Henderson

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love to cook, I garden and I love to travel.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Meatloaf or spaghetti

? What do you think makes a good story?

For me I like a character you can relate to and come to care about. I like to have twists and turns, I want the plot to keep moving.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

J.R.R. Tolkien, to weave such an intricate story with a cast of thousands is such a gift.

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

That one, and Twilight, the entire series.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats? I love both, but cats right now.

·        Coffee or tea? Tea

·        Dark or milk chocolate? Dark

·        Rocks or flowers? Flowers

·        Night or day? day

·        Favorite color? blue

·        Crayons or markers? Crayons

·        Pens or pencils? Pens

More About the Author:

I grew up in a small northern Minnesotan town married my high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children and as soon as we could we moved to a warmer climate. I have worked with my husband building and decorating custom homes for years. After loving every kind of vampire book, movie and series I decided that I wanted to know more. I can write a book I thought, how hard can that be? Well.... But I stuck to it and finished my first book Royal Blood Chronicles Book One in August 2009. I now have six books in the series and am about to release book two of my new series Phantom Lives.  My parents always told me that I could do anything that I wanted, work hard, study and do it right. I believe that and live that way every day.

I started writing this new vampire series for teens and their moms because I myself wanted something different to read. I was tired of all the modern versions of vampire books, there had to be more to these long lived beings. Where had they been what had they seen? I wanted, no I NEEDED to know more so Royal Blood Chronicles was born!  As in Royal Blood Chronicles, Phantom Lives features strong female characters and action and adventure mixed with romance, friendship and a historical backdrop. 

Katrina: The Beginning

By Elizabeth Loraine

Blurb

As a Vampire being hunted was nothing new. Finding out that I had to save those that were hunting us was!

Katrina, a young royal blooded vampire, chronicles her life from the age of seventeen beginning in the 1800's forward in the series Royal Blood Chronicles.

Katrina is thrust into something she never could have imagined growing up in the aristocracy of Europe. Once the fashion of the day, and girlish gossip filled Katrina and her new friends days, but their lives changed the instant their race was threatened and they were chosen as the Five, and the protectors of not only the vampire race, but all the peaceful races of the world!

If you are looking for a new, exciting vampire series, with strong female characters you've found it in Royal Blood Chronicles. It starts here with Katrina, The Beginning!

Barnes and Noble

Amazon http://t.co/4tzyqGzZ 

Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTObw06aJFo

www.royalbloodchronicles.com  

www.elizabethloraine.com/  

https://www.facebook.com/eloraine#!/eloraine

@bloodchronicles

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-Blood-Chronicles/135355462710

Book Launch: Uncontrollable (Book 2 in The Nature of Grace series)

Yay! Uncontrollable is out today!

Uncontrollable is the second book in "The Nature of Grace" series by S.R. Johannes. Untraceable, the first book in the series, has won and been nominated for several awards including Winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Award (YA), 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (YA Nominee), and a finalist in The Kindle Book Review's "Best Indie Book of 2012 (YA)".

Kirkus reviewed Untraceable as "A thrilling story is a dramatic entanglement of mystery, deception and teen romance.  The action flows like a brisk mountain stream interspersed with rapids, holding suspense to last page."

If you like a page turner, you will love this series!

Head over to Mundie Moms for a Big Uncontrollable Launch Party with tons of prizes and then over to SR Johannes blog for even more.

To continue on with the blog tour, check out the line up! Where SR talks about anything from marketing to writing to her books to personal interviews and giveaways.

Book Summary

As 16-year-old Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program". 

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants. 

After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues. 

Little does she know, she is being hunted too. 

On Sale Now! 

Uncontrollable is on sale in paperback and ebook at all major booksellers including Amazon, iBooks/Apple (coming soon),  Smashwords, and B&N. If you haven't read Untraceable, you can get it in paperback and ebook at all major booksellers including Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, and B&N.

Author Bio

S.R. Johannes is the author of award-winning and Amazon bestselling Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and new tween paranormal, On The Bright Side. She has also published short novelettes as well as a teen romance anthology with 16 other authors titled, In His Eyes.  Uncontrollable, the sequel to Untraceable, is scheduled for September 2012.

S.R. Johannes is a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult) and was also recently nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult). Untraceable was also recently named a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Indie Book of the Year (YA)

After earning an MBA and working in corporate America, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing.  She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. 

Connect!

Follow S.R. online on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest

You can also sign up for her newsletter to keep up on author or book news.

Review: Irish Rover by L.M. Pruitt

Irish Rover by L.M. Pruitt

Book 0.5

Cheating husband?

Call Frances "Frankie" Post, a private investigator with a trick or two up her sleeve.

In this flash fiction piece (approx. 1500 words) join Frankie as she spends the afternoon in Queens masquerading as a member of the "personal entertainment" business community. A note to cheating husbands - never use the joint checking account.

My thoughts:

This is a super short introduction to Pruitt's style and to Frankie Post.  I am already a Pruitt fan so this was a, "I want to read it so I have read all her stuff," read.  Fast few minutes of your day to get the feel for this wonderful author.

About the Author:

L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She is the author of the Jude Magdalyn Series as well as New Moon Rising, featuring Cari Gravier, and Taken, featuring Frankie Post. She is currently at work on the next book in the Moon Rising series, Harvest Moon Rising, due out April 2012. Ms. Pruitt makes her home in Florida with two cats--one smart, the other not so much.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/LM-Pruitt/364776895104

Blog: http://www.lmpruitt.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/lmpruitt

Don't Miss Book one - Taken

Taken: Book One

Cheating spouse? Stolen jewelry? Missing person?

Call Frances--Frankie--Post. A private detective with a trick of two up her sleeve and a few skeletons of her own.

What starts out as a simple missing person's case dumps Frankie and her lover Jack right in the crosshairs of a dangerous human trafficking organization. With lives on the line, bad blood and old wounds finally see the light of day. And Frankie and Jack are forced to realize: The past always catches up with you.

Always.

Click HERE to see my review of Taken.